Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), a test for birth defects, carries the same risk as the more commonly used amniocentesis, a new study has shown. Doctors previously thought its risk to be greater.

Women can undergo CVS about six weeks earlier than amniocentesis, at 10 to 12 weeks gestation, so these findings, if confirmed, will be good news for those wanting early detection.

Researchers speculate that as doctors have gotten better at CVS, the chance of miscarriage has decreased. Both procedures, however, still carry some risk. Discuss the pros and cons with your health-care professional.

FamilyRoutes is a new online community for families offering free, unlimited blogging and photo sharing as well as a host of other great features. Samantha Fein, one of the founders (and a mom herself), explains the company’s vision: “Each of us has many dimensions, not just parenthood or our work life. This service is about sharing our interests, projects and challenges with the people we care about.”

Fein recently wrote to me, “We love to see gay families full of life on our network (and anywhere of course). Our hope is to showcase lesbian families as clearly as all other families.” Sounds like a great opportunity for building bridges, as well as keeping in touch with family and friends. Thanks for being an ally, Samantha.

All or some of your FamilyRoutes information can be public or private, and you can invite others to contribute as well. E-cards and “care packages” of photos and messages are additional built-in communication tools.

Is FamilyRoutes better than Blogger (or WordPress, or Typepad) + Flickr? The techno-savvy, and those already set up with one of the above services may prefer the greater flexibility of a do-it-yourself solution. Those who want an integrated, simple way to get up and running fast may favor FamilyRoutes. Even the techno crowd, though, may want a site with FamilyRoutes in order to include less geeky family and friends in a collaborative online project about their lives.

One more reason to like FamilyRoutes? It’s a woman-run company. Fein founded the company with two other women, all ex-Yahoo employees.

Right now, FamilyRoutes is in Beta, which mean they’re still adding features and working out bugs. Nevertheless, it shows a lot of promise. Give it a whirl and see what you think.

Having a pre-schooler, I don’t write about teens as often as perhaps I should. Here’s one item, however, that caught my eye:

A long-term study of high school seniors’ educational and occupational plans found a widening gap between goals and actual achievements. Ambition can be good for some, the researchers say, but can also lead to “disappointment and discouragement rather than optimism and success.”

It’s a fine line for parents. My instinct is to encourage and support my son in whatever he wants to become. At the same time, if I had wanted to be, say, an opera singer, I hope my parents would have had the sense to steer me gently towards careers more suited to my tuneless abilities. I suspect it’s a matter of a child’s age, too. When they’re young, I believe, they should feel like they can do anything. At some point, however, especially as they near adult age, a little honest, objective feedback can be useful. Shadowing programs like Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day may also help clarify what real-world options entail.

Right now, my son is deciding whether to be a firefighter, park ranger, paramedic, train engineer, or pirate. (”A good pirate,” he says.) I’m happy with it that way.

Today is the National Day of Remembrance of Hurricane Katrina. Despite an outpouring of public support last year (in the face of what most agree were monumental government snafus), many Gulf Coast residents are still struggling to rebuild their lives. For stories of how LGBT residents of New Orleans are doing so, take a look at this week’s Advocate.

Many LGBT organizations and allies contributed to the relief efforts, including the Rainbow World Fund, the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, the Montrose Clinic, and the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Houston. HRC and PageOneQ have fuller lists. Not all of the organizations seem to be active anymore, but the lists are a striking testament to the power of our community. This doesn’t even count the more general donations to relief efforts by LGBT individuals, from Ellen to many of you.

Right-wing groups may say LGBT events, among other “sinful” activities, were “responsible” for causing God’s vengeance on New Orleans. If that were the case, I can’t imagine any God would have let so many LGBT people help rebuild it and shelter those who fled.

Last week, researchers announced the discovery of a genetic variant that may help identify women at higher risk of having premature births. This would allow doctors to take appropriate measures to minimize the risk. The scientists also found that African-American babies were three times more likely than those of European descent to carry this genetic marker, which they say may help explain the higher rates of pre-term births among African Americans.

New treatment options to prevent pre-term births are still elusive, however. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration announced today it is considering whether to order further trials of Gestiva, a drug intended to prevent premature births, citing varying results about its efficacy. Gestiva may also be linked with higher miscarriage and stillbirth rates.

According to the March of Dimes:

More than a half million babies are born too soon each year and the preterm birth rate has increased more than 30 percent since 1981. Babies who do survive face risks of lifelong challenges of cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease, and vision and hearing loss, as well as other developmental problems.

The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign site has more information on pre-term labor, including how to recognize the symptoms, what to do, and what your doctor may recommend.

Tonight, USA Network will broadcast live the ceremony to rename the National Tennis Center after Billie Jean King. The event will be hosted by CBS commentator Mary Carillo, who was honored at this year’s Gay Games “for her honest portrayal of GLBT athletes.”

If your kids are old enough to understand, watch the ceremony with them and explain why King is an icon for lesbians and all women. ESPN has a short biography, if you want to refresh your memory, and the Women’s Sports Foundation (an organization she founded) has an even more extensive list of her accomplishments, both on court and as a champion for women’s and LGBT equality.

Coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. EST. Check your local listings.

A quick follow up to one item from last Friday’s Weekly Political Roundup: The Alabama Democratic Party reinstated out lesbian Patricia Todd as its candidate for the state legislature, after disqualifying both her and her opponent for failing to file election forms in time. This means Todd will almost certainly become the first out legislator in the state, since no Republican is challenging her.

It’s Women’s Equality Day, marking the ratification of the U. S. Constitution’s 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Don’t forget to exercise that right this fall. Still a lot of other inequalities to work on . . . .

A lengthy roundup this week, so I’ll put most of it after the jump. Read on for news about Alabama, Arizona, California, and Washington, as well as Australia, Canada, South Africa, and Sweden. Read more »

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved over-the-counter purchase of the Plan B emergency- contraception pill for women 18 and older, and men purchasing for their partners. Girls 17 and under will still need prescriptions. Because of its dual status, Plan B will only be available at licensed pharmacies. (Nine states, however (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington and Vermont) already allow some pharmacies to sell it without a prescription, even to minors, and will be able to continue doing so.)

The decision was preceded by the usual political hoo-hah that surrounds any reproductive-rights issue. CNN has more. Some still view the result as a compromise. Reproductive-rights group Planned Parenthood “hailed” the decision, but “expressed dismay at the scientifically baseless restrictions” on teenagers in a country with one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the world.